Missouri men’s golf began its 2017 spring season with a strong showing at the SunTrust Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Florida, hosted by Southeastern Conference rival No. 2 University of Florida. The Tigers finished tied for second place with Jacksonville University, at +12. The course was a par 70.
The team got off to a good start on day one, playing two rounds. After a first-round score of +12, the Tigers’ second round came in under par at -1. They ended the day in second place at +11, behind SEC foe University of Arkansas at +6.
At the end of the first day, the Tigers had three players in the top 15. Freshman Rory Franssen continued his stellar play from the fall, getting off to an early lead by ending the first two rounds in second place at -3, behind Charles Kim of Arkansas, who finished at -6.
Senior Euan Walker and junior Trevor Ullestad were among the players tied for 15th after day one, finishing at +4.
Franssen ended up being the biggest key to the Tigers’ success; he finished at a career-high second place overall, at -5. He nearly caught up to Kim by going two strokes under par in the final round but finished just one stroke back. This is Franssen’s second top-10 finish of his career. The first came at The Jackrabbit tournament in the fall.
Senior Linus Lilliedahl finished second overall on the team at +6, tied for No. 22. Walker and Ullestad both dropped down the leaderboard in the final round, finishing tied for No 33 at +8. Junior Hayden Buckley finished fifth for the Tigers at +11, tied for No. 53 overall. The Tigers shot +1 as a team in the final round.
Arkansas won the tournament at +5, finishing seven strokes ahead of the Tigers. Kim took the individual title, finishing at -6, just one stroke below Franssen.
The men will compete next at the Auburn Tiger Invitational, which takes place March 5-7.
_Edited by Eli Lederman | elederman@themaneater.com_